Apple Finally Approves Trai Do Not Disturb App for Inclusion in App Store

Apple has been resisting for a long time now. Earlier, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India had requested Apple to include the Trai DND – Do Not Disturb app in App store. But unlike Google, Apple rejected the request. Apple said that they would not include the DND app by Trai into the App store, the reason being some privacy concerns. This means iPad and iPhone users in India will now be able to user Trai’s Do Not Disturb app on their respective devices. The iPhone and iPad users will be able to download and install the TRAI-DND app in their devices for free from the iOS App Store. It is important to note that to download the application, the iPhone and the iPad users will need to upgrade their device to iOS 12.1 or later software version.

Apple Includes Trai’s DND App in App Store

The TRAI DND app is already available on Google Play store. And now, the app is available for iPhone and iPad users as well. To recollect, both Apple and Trai faced numerous struggles to come to a mutual agreement for the inclusion of the TRAI DND app in the App store. But Apple has finally approved to include the app in the App store after the Indian Government threatened to ban iPhone in the country for not having the app onboard. In July this year, Trai issued a directive to the Indian telecom companies stating that all phones that did not support TRAI-DND app will be barred from the telecom networks in India.

In the directive, Trai had mentioned, “Every Access Provider shall ensure, within six months’ time, that all smartphone devices registered on its network support the permissions required for the functioning of such Apps as prescribed in the regulations 6(2)(e) and regulations 23(2)(d),” Trai noted. “Provided that where such devices do not permit functioning of such Apps as prescribed in regulations 6(2)(e) and regulations 23(2)(d), Access Providers shall, on the order or direction of the Authority, derecognise such devices from their telecom networks.”

Why Didn’t Apple Include the App So Long?

The TRAI DND app basically helps users report unwanted calls and messages which have increased in India by a massive number in the last one year. On an average, according to some reports, Indians receive up to ten unwanted calls or messages in a day. Apple took some time to include the app in the App store because of some privacy concerns. According to some sources within Apple, the TRAI DND app deemed a privacy risk. As of now, it is not clear if Trai has modified the DND app for meeting the privacy requirements from Apple or if Apple has just approved after the company was threatened of banning iPhone in the country.